On June 11, the airplane's crew, parked at gate F3, received permission for engine start and pushback and instructed the tractor operator accordingly.
Once the pushback to taxiway A was finished, the crew used the brakes and informed the operator to disconnect the tractor. The operator moved the 787 away and stopped the tractor about 10 feet ahead of the plane, then removed the communication cable and the nose-gear pin to regain hydraulic power.
The Dutch Safety Board reports that the crew asked for taxi clearance, which they received, and completed the taxi checklist, the final step of which involves verifying that ground-support equipment is clear of the plane.
The safety board notes that since the pushback tractor isn't always visible from the cockpit, the crew must wait for the operator's "all-clear" hand signal before starting to taxi.
The first officer, peering through the cockpit window, did not see anyone on the right side of the plane but assumed the taxi path was clear.
The airplane collided with the tractor still parked in front as the operator was about to get in.
The safety board states that the crew felt a vibration and immediately halted the aircraft, and the operator was unharmed.
However, the tractor sustained damage, and the aircraft, a 2019-delivered General Electric GEnx-powered airframe, experienced damage to areas like the nose-gear tires.
